The Pea Ridge Optimist Club is encouraging area students to speak their minds about the topic of “Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem?” as part of the Optimist International Oratorical Contest for 2010.

The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ speeches based on content and presentation to determine the top winners.

Winners will receive U.S.

savings bonds at the following levels: first place, $500; second place, $350;

and third place, $100. The winning speeches will be sent to the zone level, and possibly district level for the opportunity to collegescholarships.

Students under the age of 16 as of Dec. 31, 2009, and who live within the Pea Ridge School district (public, private and homeschooled) are eligible to participate.

The deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Students wishing to participate in the oratorical contest can find out more about the contest by contacting Denise Pollock at 426-3415.

Essay contest

“The Internet: Today’s Evolution or Tomorrow’s Menace?” is the topic of the essay contest sponsored by the Pea Ridge Optimist Club. Youth under the age of 19 as ofDec. 31, 2009, are eligible to enter.

The Pea Ridge Optimist Club will award a $500 first place scholarship and a $350 second place scholarship. These will be awarded to the student when they have selected a college they are planning to attend and by supplyingtheir student identification and the college to which the money is to be applied.

Interested students may obtain an application from their teacher or Bill Meyers at 644-5423 or Sandy Lasiter at 903-6795. When completed, return it by Jan. 14, 2010. Student applications will not be accepted after this date.

The Optimist Club will sponsor an additional contest for younger school age children in the junior high level, who will be graded on the same scale using the same topic. The awards to be given will be a $50 gift card for firstplace and a $25 gift card for second place. Those who have won in the past will not be eligible to participate in this year’s program but will be available to participate in the future through the Optimist International essay contest when they are of the age to participate.